7 Steps to Losing Weight While Keeping Your Skin Firm

Assuming you don't have an excessive amount of loose skin already it is possible to lose weight and keep your skin firm in the process. The idea is to keep your body well hydrated day in and day out. NEVER EVER let yourself become dehydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and NEVER EVER totally eliminate your carbohydrate intake. From my experience, most people who have lost weight too fast by eliminating their carbohydrates ended up with a lot of excess skin afterwards. The whole idea is to lose weight to get healthier and of course to look better with your clothes ON and with your clothes OFF.

Here are some tips:

1. Follow a well-rounded balanced diet.

 

2. Follow a full body exercise routine alternating with a split routine every 4 weeks. For example, full body routine 4 weeks, split routine 4 weeks, full body routine 4 weeks, and so on. 

3. Assuming you don't have stomach ulcers and you are not on blood thinners you should also take ONE TEASPOON of cold arctic cod liver oil ONCE PER DAY with your evening meal. 

4. Take 1000-1500mg of lecithin per day. Lecithin has been known to increase the elasticity of the skin. 

5. Anything you can do to increase circulation will also help. Skin brushing techniques are very good. Do a search on the internet for skin brushing to get all the info you need. Deep massages are also good. 

6. Most importantly if you are more than 75 pounds overweight DO NOT try to lose weight too fast. The more you weigh the easier it will be to lose weight so ease into it slowly so you only lose about 3 pounds per week. Doing this will prevent the sagging skin. If you lose weight too fast you will end up with loose skin 90% of the time. 

7. Some people have done weekly body wraps with great success, but it can get messy. You can do this as an option but it's really not necessary. As an option, you can also take a supplement called collagen. 

As I stated above, one key to increasing the elasticity of your skin is to keep your body well hydrated. Yes, drinking water will do this. The average person needs at least ½ an ounce of water per pound of body weight. Possibly more depending on the type of exercise you do on a daily basis. The reason why so many people end up with loose skin after losing weight is because they go on low carbohydrate diets that will in turn dehydrate the body. If you lose weight and are dehydrated in the process you will see the weight go down but unfortunately most of the weight being lost is nothing more than water weight. If you are losing 2-3 pounds per week you are doing great. If you are losing 4-6 pounds you are pushing the limit. Any more than 6 pounds per week and you are sure to end up with loose skin after losing the weight because chances are you are restricting too many carbohydrates from your diet. Cutting out refined flours/breads and sugars will yield the best results. 

Also, instead of getting on the scale every week to measure your progress, go more by how your clothes are fitting. I always tell my clients to try on the tightest pair of pants they have and then follow my program for 4 weeks and then try them on again. After 4 weeks those tight-fitting pants will be a thing of the past.

Follow all the above and you will see amazing results.

Lose Weight While You Sleep

You probably didn't know it, but one of the best times to lose weight is while you sleep. That's because the human body is designed by nature to repair itself during the hours we are sleeping.

Our bodies use sleep to repair and strengthen our muscles, joints and other parts that get tired and damaged through use and exertion during waking hours.

This restorative process uses energy to rebuild lean muscle mass and to help rebuild other kinds of body tissue. That is worth repeating -- this rebuilding process uses energy -- and if the rebuilding process is running smoothly and efficiently, that energy comes from places in our body where energy is stored -- from fat.

In other words, the body rebuilds tissue, organs, bone, and lean muscle by burning fat.

Several things about this process are worth noting. They have an important bearing on how efficiently it works.

Collagen is very important to the body repair process

Collagen is the most common protein found in our bodies. It is the main component of our skin, nails, bones, cartilage, and connective tissue and is found in all of the body organs. Cartilage is the cushion and shock absorber between joints, and the reason we stay flexible and mobile. Healthy cartilage is constantly being regenerated by the body naturally and this process contributes to keeping us youthful and flexible.

As we age, our bodies lose the ability to produce collagen at sufficient levels needed to support the deep restorative sleep processes that our bodies are designed to perform. This can be a major contributor that leads to a premature aged appearance and can definitely affect our flexibility and mobility. It stands to reason that a collagen supplement combined with other natural ingredients can have a dramatic effect in better supporting the deep restorative sleep process. This in turn can allow the body to experience more energy, build more lean muscle, and burn more fat.

Amino acids enhance the regeneration process

The rebuilding process is also influenced by the efficiency of the amino acids normally used for this purpose. As part of the rebuilding process, amino acids help maintain lean muscle mass and allow the body to more readily consume fat for energy. This contributes to weight loss.

Again, as we age, our body's production of efficient amino acids is reduced. A supplement such as L-Carnitine is a special amino acid that enhances the body's normal function and helps your body convert excess fat into readily available fuel. During deep sleep, these special amino acids work like a natural "turbocharger" to help your body repair, preserve and build lean muscle while burning stored fat to supply the needed energy.

Not eating before sleeping is important

Since the body uses deep sleep for the restoration process, it is important when using a collagen supplement not to eat three hours before going asleep. This is because we don't want nutrient competition between undigested food and the collagen supplement special nutrient formula itself. If the body has to concern itself with digestion it will not absorb the collagen formula properly. Therefore, your body will not be performing its natural restorative process while you sleep, but rather will be concerned with undigested foods and will actually be storing fat from the continuing digestive process rather than burning fat as the energy for the deep sleep restorative process.

This tends to put us into a "diet circle of frustration". The less time your body spends in deep restful sleep (without competing digestion), the less time it has to restore its natural health, and the less fat that is burned in support of this natural rebuilding process. Now we understand the key connection between deep restorative sleep and weight loss many times goes hand in hand with our overall health.

Reducing or eliminating the intake of food three hours before bedtime allows the body to use its natural fat reserves for metabolic fuel during the deep restorative sleep cycle.

A well-rounded strength training program helps you burn calories while you sleep

Strength training, also known as resistance training, involves performing exercises that target specific muscle groups against resistance. This resistance can come from free weights, machines, or even your own body weight. When you engage in strength training, you create micro-tears in your muscle fibers. As your body repairs these tears, it expends energy, which in turn burns calories.

However, the calorie-burning effects of strength training don’t stop there. The process of muscle repair and growth requires ongoing energy, even during periods of rest and sleep. This phenomenon is known as the “afterburn effect” or excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). Essentially, your body’s metabolism remains elevated after a strength training session, causing it to continue burning calories for hours, and even overnight.

As you sleep, your body’s need for energy doesn’t disappear. It requires fuel to support essential functions like breathing, digestion, and repairing tissues. With an increased amount of muscle mass from strength training, your resting metabolic rate (RMR) is higher, resulting in a greater calorie burn while you slumber.

Creating an Effective Strength Training Routine

To maximize the nighttime calorie-burning effects of strength training, it’s essential to design a well-rounded workout routine. Here are some tips to consider:

• Include Compound Exercises: Compound movements such as squats, deadlifts, and bench presses engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, leading to more muscle activation and a higher overall calorie burn.
• Progressive Overload: Gradually increase the weight you lift over time. This challenges your muscles and promotes continued growth, which contributes to sustained calorie burn.
• Balanced Training: Target different muscle groups on different days to ensure adequate recovery. A balanced approach prevents overtraining and enhances overall muscle development.
• Rest and Recovery: Quality sleep is crucial for muscle repair and growth. Prioritize getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night to support your fitness goals.

Strength training is a formidable ally in your journey toward a healthier body and enhanced metabolism. Beyond its immediate effects on muscle tone and strength, this type of exercise ignites a continuous calorie-burning process that persists while you sleep. By incorporating regular strength training sessions into your fitness routine, you’re not only building a stronger body but also fostering a more efficient metabolism that works for you day and night. So, the next time you hit the weights, remember that you’re not just lifting for the present – you’re investing in a metabolic fire that keeps burning, even in your dreams. For an effective strength training program with all 4 components noted above that you can do from home, check out some options here!